Watch: Researcher shares challenges with pace of cancer research

Kimberly Badal is passionate about the need for cancer research in Trinidad and Tobago.

Thus far, however, her efforts to begin various research projects that can have a direct impact in the improvement of cancer care in Trinidad and Tobago is being stymied by a laborious research ethics committee system.

Badal returned to Trinidad after completing her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at York University, Toronto and a Master of Science in Biomedical Science at St. Radboud University, The Netherlands. On her return, she co-founded the Caribbean Cancer Research Initiative (CCRI) in August 2016.

CCRI is a non-profit organisation that focuses on evidence-based solutions for cancer prevention and management as well as cancer awareness and advocacy.

Apart from spearheading many cancer research projects, she currently sits on the Research Ethics Committee of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and is pursuing her PhD in Molecular Genetics at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

Looptt caught up with Badal and sought to get her views the challenges faced with obtaining approvals to begin the much-needed research in Trinidad and Tobago and how best her research can help to improve cancer prevention, early detection and management.

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